This week we're reading about reading -- the value of having lots of books in your home as well as reading instruction. We're mulling over specific strategies to access the strengths of students, looking at ways to get ALL students actively involved in learning, and thinking about teacher burnout. So take five minutes and check it all out!

This week's Take5 touches on writing to learn and the power of science fairs. Plus, we highlight ways to bring the Midterm Elections to life for your students and outline the steps one state is using to teach kids about mental health (and remove the stigma surrounding it). And to finish: an eloquent story about libraries and how they represent the legacy so many of us work toward in life. So pour a cup of coffee or tea, put your feet up, and read Take5 for a little educator inspiration.

This week, we're back to a Take5 full of news and ideas from around the web. We've been reading about movement in the secondary classroom and key lessons that all kids need to learn. We're thinking about creating fantastic book displays to lure in readers, administrator observations, and using time on the school bus to extend learning. So, take a look and let us know what you think!

Take5 this week is focus on being positive, incorporating movement strategies into the classroom, inquiry in student-centered learning, a key question to help drive us forward as professionals, and spreading kindness. Really, all of the things we're reading lately are about growth, working on making our classrooms and libraries the best places to learn, and improving our practice. Take a look!

Take5 touches on so many things that are at the forefront of my mind these days. First: cell phones. A believer in technology, I no longer think the value of cell phones outweighs the distraction. The research supports my view when it comes to middle schoolers. This week's post also explores the power of "math talk," poverty in wealthier school districts, how to spot and encourage teacher resiliency and how a school turned its hallways into a cure for antsy students.

This week's Take5 is all over the map (in a good way). We've got strategies for improving your grading practice. Seriously, it doesn't have to suck out the essence of your soul. We've got practical ideas for using Design Thinking in your classroom to stretch kids into problem solving as well as the BAAR strategy for creating a safety net for kids at the secondary level. We also focus on the news of the day, recent teacher strikes by taking a closer look at the have-nots in public education. Far too many of our schools and buildings are falling apart. The proof is in the pictures. Lastly, to end on a positive note - a powerful infographic about the multifaceted work of school librarians, because well, librarians rock. Happy Tuesday.

We're back from spring break and back to doing the job we love: teaching. While away last week, these articles, touching on wide-range of topics, caught my interest by offering ideas for improving best practices and student engagement. I hope something here will light a spark in you as we all jump into the final months of the school year.

Happy New Year! What better way to start the new year than with a Take5 (okay, it's really a Take9 because we just couldn't stop once we started) focused on all things kindness related? In 2018, let's help one another promote kindness, empathy and caring in our classrooms, within the hearts of our students, and in our school communities. 2018, we've got this.